Well Karl - let me see now - we had the following cars in R&D:
MMY2122 - yellow VW golf diesel, the original car from where FNM engine was derived
MMY2292 - white Fiat Ritmo
MMY2299 - white Peugeot 305 front wheel drive with a unique 90 degree turnaround cooling fan belt as there was no electric fan
MMY6234 - originally imported brand new, left hand drive yellow Seat 124 especialle with Italian Pirelli tyres - my favoutite to this day - not used for 9 years, all Pirelli tyres flat, eventually had a tree growing through it
MMY6092 - imported used, maroon with black vinyl top Seat 124 converted by us from LHD to RHD with a Padmini engine and transmission and link operated clutch floor shift
MMY4975 - imported used, dark blue Seat 124 converted by us from LHD to RHD fitted with the first ever Nissan A12 engine and Nissan f$w56A transmission, was our first prototype car which I tested extensively in VRDE. The original Nissan gear lever was chromeplated and the knob was in smooth polished finish. All subsequent gearboxes came from Nassan with the black gear lever.
MMY5219 - white Seat 124 converted by us from LHD to RHD, fitted with the Mazda engine and transmission, tested extensively by us to decide between Nissan, Mazda and Fiat 131 engines for the new car project, finally named as 118NE.
BMN110/C - unregistered. This was the trade plate (the red testing plate) - white Seat 124 converted from LHD to RHD fitted with a Fiat 131 especiale engine and transmission
Unregistered - originally imported brand new, left hand drive green Seat 124 especialle, parked inside the assembly line in Kalyan plant with strict instructions not to dismantle, only to be used as a master car.
MMY3304 - white Ambassador, purchased for comparison
MAS180 - white Maruti 800 (1984) purchased for comparison - a beauty - last seen in horrible condition lying on the road in Ghatkopar
MMY8054 - Maroon Nassan Sunny 1300 cc, imported in 1984 with standard trim. I adapted the fuel filter mounting bracket for the S1 from this car
MMY8055 - Light blue Nissan Sunny Station Wagon with DX trim
MAM5139 - white Nissan Sunny, used by directors
MAM817 - white Nissan Laurel 6 cylinder automatic used by MD. I drove it @ 160 kmph outside Konkan Bhavan, last seen lying as scrap outside Spectra Motors, Malad
MZM7245 - first Kalyan plant made 118NE in 1986 before the 118 name was given to the car, red colour, features on 118NE drivers' instruction books, brochures, used for advertisement in 1985, used
MZM7247 - 2nd 118NE, used for PAVE test at VRDE Ahmednagar
MZM7250 - 3rd 118NE, used for mixed circuit testing from Kurla to Wada and back (500 kms/day)
MZM7256 - 4t 118NE in a horrible popat green colour, used for highway endurance
MMY4842 - white PP Deluxe car 1089 cc 8:1 CR prototype
MMY5038 - white PP Deluxe 1221 cc prototype (this was a bomb but gave 7 kmpl)
MMY5039 - white first production FNM Diesel prototype
MMY6465 - cream PP with 995 cc engine prototype
MMY6058 - brown PP with 1089 cc prototype for LPG project (kit was never fitted)
MAM657 - cream PP standard
MAM4167 - PP convertible. Only one ever made. Very unique. My colleague Rajaram worked on it.
MAM2537 - white PP Deluxe BE first prototype with factory fitted AC
MAM5230 - white PP Deluxe BE second prototype with factory fitted AC
MAM9507 - white PP sent to AVL for S1 project
MAM9975 - Grey PP Deluxe BE AC. The first ever PPO car converted to run on CNG in India in February 1990 by yours truly in ONGC Baroda
MGQ8174 - my favourite - a brown 118NE used for the Himalayan Rally service in 1987, route survey in 1988 and service in 1988 with 4.3:1 axle ratio - last seen in white colour in scrap condition - how I wish I can buy it and restore it. I covered 1171 kms in one day in it (24 April 1988). All fuel system development was done on this car.
MH03A60 - blue PP first R&D car having MH03 serial number, first Nissan transmission column shift prototype
MH03A2197 - white PP - very unique - sent to AVL and recieved back, fitted with S2 engine. The only car ever to have the S2 engine in it. Beautifully made by AVL.
MH03B2917 - white PP standard, second CNG prototype
MH03A1041 - the very first white Uno Selecta imported for the project, with a vario drive.
Then I left the company. I don't know what was shifted to Ranjangaon. How' that ? More to come.
Best regards,
Behram Dhabhar |